IHI team presents at FAHM Midwife Conference

The foundation for Advancement of Haitian Midwives (FAHM) invited two of our team members to present at their 2nd Annual Continuing Education Conference: Midwifery and Women's Health that took place on March 30, 31st and April 1st at the Ritz Kinam Hotel. FAHM is a charitable and educational non-profit organisation whose mission is to support and aid Haitian midwifery associations, education programs and midwifery students living in Haiti, where there are high rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

The 3 day conference was also in partnership with the UNFPA, L’Association Infirmière Sage Femme d’Haiti (AISFH), and l'Institut National Supérieur de Formation Sage Femme (INSFSF), Haiti’s only professional midwifery education program.

The conference highlighted evidenced based gynaecological and obstetrical care. This included breast and cervical cancer awareness, screening and treatment. Women's reproductive health:Family planning (IUD insertion/ implants,etc.). Nutrition, Pregnancy & birth: "The fourth stage of labor" (skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping, patient-centered care) and professional issues in midwifery in Haiti. (fahminc.org)

Our Field & Awareness Coordinator Holdie, provided an intensive training in community outreach/awareness as well as screening with VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid), and treatment of identified lesions through cryotherapy (known as SEE AND TREAT). Our counselor and educator Yolette presented on cancer in general, combating mythes and stigmas on the illness as well as the psychological and social methods needed to help support a women suffering from cancer, and in our case breast and cervical cancer.

The conference showcased the many facets of midwifery including the pushback midwives face, redefining what it means to be a midwife and much more. They addressed many of the issues that affect Haitian women in particular and the ways in which we can combat those challenges.

We thank FAHM for inviting us and hope to continue to collaborate in the future. We take pride in providing medical care to Haitian women in all its forms.

For more information on FAHM and the work they do, visit their website at: http://www.fahminc.org/.